Latch mechanism



April 22, 1952 R, J, BRANDT y 2,593,971

LATCH MECHANISM Filed oct.v 9, 1946 Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

Another object of my invention is the manufacture of a locking means for receptacles capable of the above uses and of accomplishing the above objects which is inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum of working parts, and is extremely durable in use.

The above and still further objects oi my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like charA acters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view; and

Fig. Il is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Referring with greater particularlty to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a conventional open top container, such as a garbage can or the like, which is provided with a removable telescoping cover 2 having a centrally-located handle 3. Cover 2 is also provided with an outwardlyprojecting beaded or rolled edge ai. For the purpose of hinging the cover 2 in the open top receptacle I, and as particularly shown in Fig. 3, I provide a clip-like hinge plate 5 which is secured adjacent the upper open edge of the receptacle body I by means of rivets, screws or the like 6. It will be seen that hinge plate 5 has a channel-shaped upper edge 'I which loosely overlies the beaded edge 4 of the cover so as to prevent removal of the cover under straight upward movements while permitting pivotal movements of the same.

Diametrically opposite hinge clip 5, the cover 2 is provided with a hinge bracket 8 which is secured to the side wall of the cover by means of rivets, screws, or the like 9 and which has a pair of outturned ears I0 which are horizontally drilled or pierced to receive a pivot pin I I. Mounted on pivot pin II and between the ears I0, is a latch bar I2 which at its bottom outer edge is preferably provided with a plurality of teeth I3 and which is bent inwardly at its upper end to provide a handle I4 overlying the cover 2.

Secured to the receptacle body I by means of rivets or the like I5 and immediately underlying the bracket 8, is a latch bracket I6, the upper edge of which is outturned to form a latch plate I'I which is provided with an aperture I8 to receive the toothed lower end of latch bar l2 when the cover is in closed position.

Yieldingly biasing the toothed lower end I3 of the latch bar I2 into engagement with the latch plate I'I, I provide a torsion spring, identified in its entirety by the numeral I9 which comprises a pair of coiled portions 2U', which loosely encompass the opposite ends of the pivot pin I I, an intermediate portion 2| which bears against the latch bar I2 above the pivot pin I I, and a pair of outer end portions 22 which bear against the cover 2 below the pivot pin II.

To operate my novel device, it is but necessary to pull outwardly on the inturned ,handleequipped end I4 oi"A the latch bar I2 so as to disengage the teeth I3 from the latch plate I1. The cover 2 may then be pivoted upwardly and backwardly so as to permit removal of the contents from the container body I. When it is desired'to close and lock the container against accidental or undesired removal, it is but necessary to again pull backwardly upon the handle I4 so as to permit the toothed lower end of the latch bar I2 to register with the opening I8 of the latch plate I'I, at which point, upon release of the handle I the torsion spring I9 will force one of the teeth I3 into locking engagement with the latch plate I'I.

What I claim is:

ln a device of the cla-ss described, latch mechanism for telescoping covers of garbage cans and the like, including a bracket adapted to be secured to the side edge of said cover, said bracket including a pair of laterally-spaced outwardlyprojecting ears, a pivoted pin extending through said ears and terminating outwardly from each thereof, a latch bar pivotally secured intermediate its ends to said pivot pin between said ears, the outer edge of said latch bar adjacent its lower end being provided with a plurality of teeth and the upper end thereof being bent to overlie the upper surface of said cover, a latch bracket adapted to be secured to the side wall of the can immediately below the cover, an upper portion of said latch bracket being outturned and being provided with an aperture adapted to receive the lower toothed end of the latch bar when the cover is in a closed position, and a torsion spring biasing the toothed lower end of said latch bar toward engagement with the apertured latch plate, said torsion spring including a generally U -shaped member the opposite ends of which are coiled around the opposite ends of said pivot pin.

RICHARD J. BRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Judson Mar. 27, 1883 Eberlein Mar. 11, 1884 Schwarz Feb. 17, 1925 Skavstrand June 1, 1926 Graf June 1, 1937 Wilhelm Mar. 7, 1939 Tichenor June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1882 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1935 Germany May 27, 1907 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1930 

